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Italy's Five Star approves joining liberal EU group

Followers of the 5-Star Movement (M5S) in Italy voted to join the pro-EU liberal group (Alde) in the European Parliament on Monday following a surprise announcement by the populist party's leader Beppe Grillo to leave the eurosceptic Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy (EFDD). M5S tweeted that out of the 41% who voted, 79% agreed to join Alde, which will decide on Tuesday whether to accept M5S.

Interview

The controversy over the new EU Commission top civil servant is revealing of what is wrong with EU institutions and how they are blocked by national governments, says award-winning Austrian novelist Robert Menasse.